HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

Vandebilt earns ninth straight trip to state softball tournament

Vandebilt Catholicís Mindi Robichaux (13) receives congratulations from her teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning on Friday.

Matt Stamey/Staff Photographer

Chris SingletonStaff Writer

Published: Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 12:16 a.m.

HOUMA -- When a team clinches a spot in the state tournament, itís usually followed by an ecstatic celebration amongst players, coaches and fans.

Thatís not the case for 12-time state champion Vandebilt Catholic.

After successfully clinching their ninth straight trip to the quarterfinals with a 10-1 win over Morgan City in the Class 4A regional round playoff game on Friday afternoon, the Lady Terriers acted like it was business as usual.

There wasnít any celebratory dog piles or dancing, but just a couple of hugs, high fives and smiles to go around. By the time Vandebilt coach Margaret Johnson finished her postgame victory speech, the Lady Terriers were already focused on winning the schoolís 13th state title.

Now its on to Sulphurís Frasch Park where the defending Class 4A champions will face the winner of Zachary/Archbishop Blenk in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. April 27.

"I thought this was a great win. It shows how hard these girls work," Johnson said. "Everybody wasnít looking for us to do to much this year thinking that we lost a lot of people, which we did. We lost five good seniors, but these kids have been working really hard. They have the hearts of tigers. Weíre just going to take it as far as we can."

When asked how the Lady Terriers earned another trip to Sulphur, Johnson responded simply by saying it was the heart of the team.

"They want it. Theyíre hungry. They want that feeling again," Johnson said. "We realize it wasnít going to be easy. We know that it was going to be a huge fight. I think this whole group is ready to fight. We may go down swinging, but weíre going to go down at least swinging."

Vandebilt (25-6-1) wasted little time scoring runs in the top of the first inning. After Lauren Martinez (2-for-3, walk) scored the Lady Terriers first run on a fielderís choice, Kacey Clark (2-for-4) blasted a solo home run over the left-field fence that gave Vandebilt a 2-0 lead.

Morgan Cityís Jessica Johnson returned the favor in the third inning by hitting a solo homer over the right-field fence to cut Vandebiltís lead to 2-1.

But in the bottom of the third, Vandebiltís bats abused Lady Tigers pitcher Lacie Hotard with three runs on three hits. Maddie Constant (2-for-3, walk) hit a RBI double, and Mindi Robichaux (2-for-4) added a two-run home run that made the score 5-1.

Vandebilt scored three more runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Martinez hit a two-run double, and Alaina Guidry followed with a RBI single to give Vandebilt an 8-1 advantage.

The Lady Terriers scored their final two runs in the sixth inning on a single by Candace Fairchild (3-for-3, two runs scored).

Morgan City (13-12-2) stranded eight runners on base during the game.

"Youíve got to be at your best shape against a team like Vandebilt," Morgan City coach Kelly Jo Aucoin said. "Thatís nine runs if we could have gotten them across. Thatís just been the problem -- getting the runners on and canít get them across that plate."

Johnson said she told the Lady Terriers before the game that if member of the Lady Tigers scored any runs, it would have to be earned. Morgan City had one earned run, which came off of Jessica Johnsonís home run.

"We did that," Johnson said. "Iím very pleased that we stuck with the game plan, and I think that says a lot. Hopefully we can continue to not give away any runs."

Lauren Crane (15-4-1) picked up the victory for Vandebilt in five innings of work. She allowed one run on three hits, walking five and striking out five. Sadie LeMaire pitched the final two innings. She allowed no hits or runs and struck out five.

"Right now, our pitchers are looking really good," Johnson said. "I was really impressed with Lauren. Her attitude is the attitude we need in that circle, and hopefully itíll continue."

Hotard took the loss for Morgan City. She allowed 10 runs on 11 hits, walking six and striking out seven.

<p>HOUMA -- When a team clinches a spot in the state tournament, it’s usually followed by an ecstatic celebration amongst players, coaches and fans.</p><p>That’s not the case for 12-time state champion Vandebilt Catholic.</p><p>After successfully clinching their ninth straight trip to the quarterfinals with a 10-1 win over Morgan City in the Class 4A regional round playoff game on Friday afternoon, the Lady Terriers acted like it was business as usual.</p><p>There wasn’t any celebratory dog piles or dancing, but just a couple of hugs, high fives and smiles to go around. By the time Vandebilt coach Margaret Johnson finished her postgame victory speech, the Lady Terriers were already focused on winning the school’s 13th state title.</p><p>Now its on to Sulphur’s Frasch Park where the defending Class 4A champions will face the winner of Zachary/Archbishop Blenk in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. April 27.</p><p>"I thought this was a great win. It shows how hard these girls work," Johnson said. "Everybody wasn’t looking for us to do to much this year thinking that we lost a lot of people, which we did. We lost five good seniors, but these kids have been working really hard. They have the hearts of tigers. We’re just going to take it as far as we can."</p><p>When asked how the Lady Terriers earned another trip to Sulphur, Johnson responded simply by saying it was the heart of the team.</p><p>"They want it. They’re hungry. They want that feeling again," Johnson said. "We realize it wasn’t going to be easy. We know that it was going to be a huge fight. I think this whole group is ready to fight. We may go down swinging, but we’re going to go down at least swinging."</p><p>Vandebilt (25-6-1) wasted little time scoring runs in the top of the first inning. After Lauren Martinez (2-for-3, walk) scored the Lady Terriers first run on a fielder’s choice, Kacey Clark (2-for-4) blasted a solo home run over the left-field fence that gave Vandebilt a 2-0 lead.</p><p>Morgan City’s Jessica Johnson returned the favor in the third inning by hitting a solo homer over the right-field fence to cut Vandebilt’s lead to 2-1.</p><p>But in the bottom of the third, Vandebilt’s bats abused Lady Tigers pitcher Lacie Hotard with three runs on three hits. Maddie Constant (2-for-3, walk) hit a RBI double, and Mindi Robichaux (2-for-4) added a two-run home run that made the score 5-1.</p><p>Vandebilt scored three more runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Martinez hit a two-run double, and Alaina Guidry followed with a RBI single to give Vandebilt an 8-1 advantage.</p><p>The Lady Terriers scored their final two runs in the sixth inning on a single by Candace Fairchild (3-for-3, two runs scored).</p><p>Morgan City (13-12-2) stranded eight runners on base during the game.</p><p>"You’ve got to be at your best shape against a team like Vandebilt," Morgan City coach Kelly Jo Aucoin said. "That’s nine runs if we could have gotten them across. That’s just been the problem -- getting the runners on and can’t get them across that plate."</p><p>Johnson said she told the Lady Terriers before the game that if member of the Lady Tigers scored any runs, it would have to be earned. Morgan City had one earned run, which came off of Jessica Johnson’s home run.</p><p>"We did that," Johnson said. "I’m very pleased that we stuck with the game plan, and I think that says a lot. Hopefully we can continue to not give away any runs."</p><p>Lauren Crane (15-4-1) picked up the victory for Vandebilt in five innings of work. She allowed one run on three hits, walking five and striking out five. Sadie LeMaire pitched the final two innings. She allowed no hits or runs and struck out five.</p><p>"Right now, our pitchers are looking really good," Johnson said. "I was really impressed with Lauren. Her attitude is the attitude we need in that circle, and hopefully it’ll continue."</p><p>Hotard took the loss for Morgan City. She allowed 10 runs on 11 hits, walking six and striking out seven.</p><p>Brooke Landry (2-for-3, walk) led the Lady Tigers at the plate.</p>